Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is one of America’s iconic record labels. When Moses Asch started Folkways in 1948, his goal was to create an audio encyclopedia of the world. And 70 years and one Smithsonian Institution acquisition later, it’s safe to say they’ve stayed on track with that creed. Their repertoire now includes the 2,000+ classic Folkways titles, as well as the back catalog of other legendary labels like Cook, Paredon, Dyer-Bennett, Arhoolie, and The UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music, plus new releases by the current torchbearers of folksong.

That extensive catalog boasts titles by American folk legends like Pete Seeger, Lead Belly, and Woody Guthrie, but also includes all sorts of other sonic works. Field recordings of gospel choirs, the songs of tree frogs, early ambient electronic music, the first Leonard Cohen recordings, the sounds of political uprising, 17th-century poetry, classic jazz and blues, musique concrete, and folk music old and new from across the world – it’s all there for the picking at Smithsonian Folkways.

Now, the label has dipped into the vault for another installment of their ongoing vinyl reissue series, to be issued on January 11. This time around, the curators have selected three titles by legendary pillars of folk and blues music: Lead Belly, Dave Van Ronk, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee.

Lead Belly’s Easy Rider was originally released in 1953, compiled by Moses Asch from recordings from the early-to-mid-’40s. The material largely focuses on Lead Belly’s observations of hate and discrimination that permeated the culture at the time. “Bourgeois Blues” and “Jim Crow,” for example, address the discrimination he and others incurred, while “Hitler Song” serves as a condemnation of anti-Semitism.

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The second title in this batch of vinyl reissues is Dave Van Ronk’s Ballads, Blues, and A Spiritual. It was the debut album by the legendary figure of the folk music revival who went on to be dubbed “The Mayor of MacDougal Street.” Here, Van Ronk accompanies himself on guitar while singing, in his trademark gravelly tone, fourteen traditional folk and blues tunes. From “In The Pines” and “Careless Love” to John Henry” and “Betty and Dupree,” the material on Ballads, Blues, and A Spiritual cemented Dave Van Ronk’s reputation as a unique and talented interpreter of all types of songs.

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The third in this series is a classic by the legendary duo of harmonica player Sonny Terry and blues guitarist Brownie McGhee. Originally released in 1958, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing was their first Folkways album. It showcases the pair’s talent for combining a rich blues repertoire with classic American ballads and folk songs, the lyrics for which are included in the package.

The packaging for each title has been lovingly redesigned using the original prints, materials, and photographs. The music has been remastered from the original analog master tapes by Grammy-winning sound engineer Pete Reiniger. In all, these titles give music fans the chance to enjoy the music in its original format, down to the iconic black, textured, tip-on jacket and always-detailed liner notes book.

Look out for the latest batch of reissued Smithsonian Folkways classics, available January 11. Lead Belly’s Easy Rider, Dave Van Ronk’s Ballads, Blues, and A Spiritual, and Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing are available wherever fine vinyl is sold, including on Smithsonian Folkways’ website, which also offers an exclusive bundle of the three titles and a Folkways-emblazoned turntable slipmat.

Sam Stone

Sam Stone has been obsessed with catalog music ever since his folks gave him a Contours best-of collection for his fourth birthday. He quickly began to learn all he could about rock and roll history and beyond, a passion that continues to this day.
Sam followed his love for music to the classroom, earning a B.A. from Towson University in Electronic Media and Film, concentrating on radio and audio production, as well as an M.A. in Audio Arts from Syracuse University. He has put his knowledge and skills to work at prominent reissue labels and is excited to bring his perspectives on catalog music to a broader audience. When he’s not writing for The Second Disc, Sam can be found researching about music, talking about Joni Mitchell’s career, and adding another box set to his Amazon wish list.

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